Kittanning's boys basketball team opened the season with a resounding statement as the Wildcats finished with their highest single-game point total in at least three decades.

Up-tempo play allowed Kittanning to cruise to an 85-18 win over Purchase Line in its home tournament Friday. The Wildcats (1-0) scored 35 points in the first quarter and had 56 by halftime. Coach Bill Henry said the Wildcats never previously scored that much during his time with the program, which dates to 1983.

Noah Kunst led all scorers with 21 points, while Sterling Henry and Alek Schaffer added 18 and 13, respectively.

Kittanning will play Cambria Heights at 7 p.m. Saturday in the championship game.

Mars 93, Ford City 62 — Mars (1-0), ranked No. 3 in Class AAA by the Tribune-Review News Service, had four players in double figures as it defeated Ford City (0-1) in the Planets' tournament.

Jesse Sequeira scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Sabers. He sank three 3-pointers and made five of eight free throws. Dave Lattanzio made two 3-pointers and was 5 for 7 from the foul line to finish with 15 points.

Leechburg 53, St. Gertrude 51 — Randy Smail sank four 3-pointers during a 17-point night, and Chris Swank scored 14 for the Blue Devils (1-0) in their home tournament. Ben Richie added 10.

J.J. Cosentino scored 11 points for St. Gertrude, a Catholic Youth Organization team that led by six points after three quarters.

Leechburg will play Apollo-Ridge in the tournament finals at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Damon Craig scored a team-high 11 points for the Wolves. Zac Horner and Anthony Rocco each finished with 6 points.

West Shamokin will play at 1 p.m. Saturday in the consolation game.

Girls basketball

Karns City 47, Riverview 35 — Sophomores Shanel Preston and Annie Hegedus and freshman LeAnn Gibson led the Gremlins (1-0) to a victory in the Freeport tournament. Preston scored a game-high 13 points, while Hegedus sank two 3-pointers during an 11-point night, and Gibson went 7 for 8 at the foul line in an 11-point effort.

Quigley 49, Ford City 31 — Mya Gladysiewski and Allyson Cujas each had eight points for the Sabers as they fell to Quigley at the St. Joseph's tournament. Ford City trailed, 24-17, at halftime and never recovered. Kaitlyn Smith led Quigley with 15 points.

Marion Center 42, West Shamokin 30 — Marion Center's full-court pressure led to a scoreless fourth quarter for the Wolves (0-1) in the Marion Center tournament. Jill Glover led West Shamokin with 20 points, while Alisha Johnston added four points and eight rebounds.

West Shamokin will play Punxsutawney at 10:15 a.m. Saturday in the consolation.

Wrestling

Eastern Area tournament — Kittanning sits in third place behind Kiski Area and Norwin in the team standings after the first day of the Eastern Area tournament at Gateway High School. Derek Bowser (120 pounds), Jason Nolf (132), Christian Emminger (138), Taylor Jack (152), Zac Croyle (195), and David Grafton (285) reached the semifinals, which begin Saturday.

No Kittanning wrestler was eliminated from the tournament Friday.

Riverview 42, West Shamokin 18 — Brenden Glover, a 170-pounder, pinned his opponent just 25 seconds into the match's opening bout, and David Batistig later secured a second-period pinfall for the Wolves (0-1), who forfeited five bouts. Freshman Brian Lukehart won the 113-pound bout via forfeit for West Shamokin.

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